TEHRAN, Nov. 11 -- Iran has made unprecedented achievements despite sanctions over the past years, Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said on Sunday.

Iran made progress in various fields, especially in the field of defense, missile and nuclear industries during the imposition of US sanctions over 40 years, Salehi was quoted as saying by semi-official Mehr News Agency.

The fresh sanctions by the United States will not stop Iran's progress, he said, adding that "Iran is accustomed to the (West's) sanctions, and US policy is not a new issue for the country."

The Iranian people will also stand against the new sanctions by Washington and continue advancements to "astonish" the world, he stressed.

Washington returned all the sanctions against Iran on Monday that had been removed under the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal. The US embargo targets many of the country's "critical sectors" like energy, shipping and finance.